Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-07-26
PARIS. MAINE, TUESDAY, JULY 2e, 1887.

where ~ hAd fallen from MS poSkcts ous
q. ye, he bad said nothing 10 Mrs. Thay-
er about IL.
There was no sleep for the children
till after midnight. for they had resolved
TO see sAin, Nicholas when he came with
their presents Tommy told Grace and
To, ,hs, they would be afraid when they
saw him dressed in hi, grea, fur, with
his long white beard. but Grace said he
couldn', be cross old thing for be was
coming with present. for them. while
To, declared ,hs, she didn't care II he
was cross, IL he only brough, her = nice
picture book and some candy.
At last wesried With talking. the eye
lid. dropped. and they fell asleep aud
dreamed perhaps Of the good things that
they imsginsd they were to receive.
A. the sun s,reamed into their window
In the morning and shOns in their faces,
the little girl. awoke. jumped on, OF BED
and ran for their stockings Tommy
was no, far behind. bu, !, took him long
er 20 dress and ge, down stairs. When
Samuel appeared upon the scene. he
found the mother wiping the tears OF JOY
fiom her eyes. Tommy had suit OF
clothes. cap and boots. Grace a large
doll. dr,s. and a new hood, and little
To, two picture books. little doll,
blanke, and pair Of new shoes, while
there were books for all the children.
Nor did they lack or sweeimea,s OF
candies. Mrs. Thayer had sdr..s aud
bonne, and on the table lay the will
which she had no, a, ys, looked At.
The heart Of the widow was too full
for ui,eranee. snd she turned her head to
hide her emotion. "God bless you. she
managed TO say ~ last,
III an no, the one TO ,hank.' he .,'i'
"ihsre !. an angel in our village whom
you .holld praise. But for her you
would no, have been 30 generously treat.
ed on ihi. brish; Christmas morning
"Thsy did no, come from Elirabeih'
did they ?" she quickly asked.
"No. from Mas Hooper, the minister's
daughter" he said.
"God blss, you both" exclaimed the
widow.
The girls had taken their presents and
scamperel back to bel. ba, Tommy
stood by listening to the oonvera,ion.
There i,a paper on the table that
YOU had better look A.. and unless J am
mistaken" said Samuel. "you will
fad i, the creates, Christmas present Of
all"
She looked a, the writing on the back
Of IL. aud va. % overcome ,hs, she drop.
ped into a chair.
Where did you &c, this , she a, last
inquired.
"Rsad IT," be said. IL am anxious
to know II my ,urmi,ss ate correct
"whn i,i,. mo,her'' inquired Tom
my. able no lonssr TO restrain HI, eurios'
iiy.
81, i, your grandfather. vii" she
said.
Tommy did no, understand what a
will was. but from wha, was said he
knew. ,h., in some way u Affected their
Interests
"Ye.. that !, bis signature" she said
after reading the will. "Ba, |, !. no, the
one under which the estate was settled.
My sister ard the executor had the oae
probl,ed. which /, seems by this, father
revoked. |, always did appear strange
TO me that he should have lef, me with
nothing. bu, m anxious 10 know how
you came by t."
lie told her all he knew concerning II.
when she remarked. III, mus. have been
her faiihle. husband whom you saw
running away. lie probably did no,
know be had dropped IT,"
III Aun, Betty is your half sister. she
a. leA., did no, appear 10 profit by this
greA, wroag. Perhsp. the money Is se-
cre,ed or 10 some bsnk in Boston. At
any rate the sooner !, i' looked after the
better. II you can &c, anywhere near
wha, i. due you. /, will be sufiicien, TO
place your family beyond the reach OF
poverty"
III will place the whole matter in your
hands. TO be settled as you think best"
she said.
Iii. .afe to say ,ha, such a Chris, mas
the Thayer family never experienced,
either before or afisrward. Living in
extreme poverty aud almO', wi,hou,
hope Of comfortable circumstances. they
found ,hsmselve. lifted on the hishe.,
wave Of hsPpine..
Dseked on, in their new clothes. with
hair cut or braided aud faces shining
with new bora delight, the children
s., down TO their Christmas dinner OF
roasted goose. padding and pie. {. hap
py As they could be.
sss..lN